For the Record

Associate Dean for Research and Academic Affairs, Allan Zweben

Director of Institutional Research, Ned Walsh

Assistant Director of Institutional Research, Jose Monterroso

Director of Communications, Jeannie, Hii

Capstone Committee

May 1, 2011

Re: The Case of Retired Sergeant Eli PaintedCrow

Dear Dean Takamura, Associate Dean Zweben, Ned Walsh, Jose Monterroso, Jeannie Hii, and members of the Capstone Committee at the School of Social Work, Columbia University

It has been brought to our attention that your school has required 400 students to engage in a mandatory research project (as part of their capstone project) that has entailed their assessment, diagnosis, and treatment plan for Eli PaintedCrow.

Eli PaintedCrow has publicly expressed her unequivocal objection to the use of her life-story in this research project.

- Eli PaintedCrow objects to the portrayal of her experience as narrated by Helen Benedict in The Lonely Soldier (2009). She has publicly and directly expressed this to Helen Benedict.

- The use of her image and “life-story” has been the cause of significant distress for Eli PaintedCrow. She has been placed under tremendous physical, mental, psychological and spiritual duress as a result, especially given the administration’s inadequate response to her objections to date.

- There is a significant contingent of students (approximately 200) at the School of Social Work who understand Eli PaintedCrow’s objection and question the ethics of continuing such an assignment. Under these circumstances, they have refused to this assignment. Simply removing her name from the assignment does not sufficiently remedy the situation.

- We understand that Eli PaintedCrow’s story was selected because of her identity as a Native-American woman, to increase the appearance of “diversity.” To use her life-experience against her will under such circumstances, using her legal name and her photograph, appears to be an extreme case of disregard for her dignity and her life-experience as a Native American and retired service woman.

Under such circumstances, we strongly urge you to intervene and cease the further use of Eli PaintedCrow’s life-story without her permission. Clearly, the reputation of the School of Social Work and its administration is at risk and will be under further scrutiny. We encourage you to make the proper remedy as soon as possible.

We the undersigned,

Setsu Shigematsu, Assistant Professor, Media & Cultural Studies Department, UCR

Associate Professor Michelle Raheja, Director, California Center for Native Nations& Dept. of English, UCR

Andrea Smith, Associate Professor, co-founder of Incite Women of Color Against Violence and Department of Media & Cultural Studies

Jodi Kim, Associate Professor, Ethnic Studies Department, UCR

Kelaulani Vaughn, graduate student, Ethnic Studies Department, UCR